Three-Point Advance

Just over a year and a half ago, Evansville Living featured one of Indiana’s most prominent basketball families, the Zellers of Washington, Ind. (“Three-Point Play,” March/April 2012). Each of the three brothers has now reached the highest level of professional basketball — the NBA — with Cody’s selection in the most recent NBA Draft.

Luke, 26, has had an active life both on and off the court since the previous Evansville Living story. On the court, Luke appeared in 16 games for the Phoenix Suns after years of bouncing around overseas and the developmental league. Off the court, Luke has focused his time as president of the Zeller family non-profit organization, DistinXion, which provides sports and character training. Luke and his wife, Hope, also welcomed a son, Kyston, into the world this past March.

Younger brothers Tyler, 23, and Cody, 21, are now playing in the NBA. Tyler finished his senior season at the University of North Carolina by garnering ACC Player of the Year honors. With the 17th overall selection of the 2012 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks chose Tyler and then traded his contract rights to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That’s where he just finished his rookie season.

Cody wrapped up his freshman season at Indiana University by winning the 2012 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award. In his sophomore season, Cody was chosen as First Team All-Big Ten by coaches and the press. That same year, he was a consensus second team All American choice by the press. On June 27, the Charlotte Bobcats made Cody the 4th overall selection of the 2013 draft. Cody wowed scouts and national media with his performance in the summer league, a type of preseason for rookies and other young players, leading many to place him on the short list of favorites for the Rookie of the Year award this coming NBA season.

“It has been a wild ride, and we daily acknowledge that we are very blessed,” says mother, Lorri Zeller. “We hope the future has many more adventures in store for us. We try to see as many games as we can.”